Shoulder pad



June,1'o,1947. MLEEBOW 2,421,895

' SHOULDER 'PAD i Filed Nov. 2l, 1946 ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOULDER PAD Mortimer Leebow, Lawrence, N. Y.

Application November 21, 1946, Serial No. 711,241

2 Claims.

The invention relates generally to shoulder pads; that is, to devices inserted within blouses, shirts, dresses, sweaters and the like, to straighten the shoulder line of the garment, and to overcome the unsightly effects of sloping and/or drooping shoulders. I

The main object of my invention is the provision of a shoulder pad comprising a plurality o-f layers of b-uckram or the like material, more or less of triangular shape in plan, having an arched stiffening rib of metal or other suitable material at the base of the triangle, the base being that portion of the device normally overlying the shoulder.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a shoulder pad made of material having some inherent stiffness, having a curved metal strip disposed therewithin at the wider end thereof, to arch the material and maintain it in the arched position.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a shoulder pad comprising a generally diamond shaped piece of buckram doubled over on itself along the shorter axis of the diamond, and having an arched strip of metal disposed between the folded over material adjacent the fold line, and having means not only to keep the arched strip in position but also to secure the two layers against lateral displacement.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part be apparent, and in part specifically pointed out in the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

In the drawings annexed hereto, and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away to reveal details of internal arrangement, of one form of device constructed according to and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2' is an elevational View thereof, looking downwardly at the wide part of the device as in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section lengthwise of the device, along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

My device, indicated generally by reference numeral I0, may be formed of buckram or of any other material which has been treated so as to impart to it some rigidity and stiffness. The gluesizing with which the fabric is treated to form the buckram also imparts to it some moisture resistant properties. To forni my device, a generally diamond shaped blank is formed, as viewed in plan. The blank is then folded over on itself along the line of the shorter axis I2, resulting in a generally triangular arrangement in plan (see Fig. 1). If desired, the sides of the blank may be curved slightly, as at Il. When folded over on itself, therefore, the blank becomes a triangle, the sides of the two layers of which are in coincidence. I

An arched strip of at material, as thin gauge metal, plastic or the like material, is provided, somewhat shorter in length than the length of the device along the fold line I2. The strip I8 is disposed inside the device, between the layers I, I6, with one edge 20 of strip I8 butting against the inside of the fold line I2, as shown in Fig. 1. Strip I8 is secured in that position as` by means of lines of stitching 22, 22 extending through both layers I4, I6 entirely around strip I8, except along edge 2li thereof, the lines of stitching 22, 22 thereby serving a double purpose of keeping the strip I8 locked in the desired position, and of securing the layers I4, I6 together in coincidence. My metal strip is preferably of such character that it may be bent into any desired degree o-f curvature. After insertion and securement within the pad as above, it may be spread flatly in order to conserve space in shipment, and thereafter arched as desired to accommodate various shoulder shapes and curves.

Pads constructed according to my invention are very light. They are formed easily, quickly and relatively inexpensively, requiring no particular skill or tooling. They may be used with or without outer covers, and are very efficient in use.

, The particular manner in which I secure the arched strip in place and keep the layers from lateral displacement is novel in the art of forming shoulder pads, and the use of inherently stiff buckram, with all its properties, makes it possible .to construct an eflicient and highly desirable article.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoulder pad comprising a diamond planshaped blank of inherently stiff textile material doubled over on itself along the shorter axis of the diamond resulting in a double-thickness member of triangular outline in plan, and means disposed and secured between the layers adjacent the fold line, to arch the pad in the direction of the line of fold, the arching means comprising a thin, fiat strip of resilient, springy material.

2. A shoulder pad comprising a diamond planshaped blank of cambric doubled over on itself along the shorter axis of the diamond resulting in a double-thickness member of triangular outline in plan, and a narrow, elongated strip of spring metal disposed between the layers of cambric adjacent the fold line and secured against shifting by lines of stitching through both layers UNITED STATES PATENTS about the edges of the metal strip, except at the Number Name Date line of fold, whereby the pad may be arched to 641,520 Lowenthal Jan 16, 1900 any degree desired in the direction of the line 5 2,408,840 Friedman Oct-, 3, 1946 of fold.

MORTIMER LEEBOW. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 363,182 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1931 The following references are of record in the lo file of this patent: 

